Nancy Murphy, a widely recognized lifelong Catonsville resident passed away at home on December 30, 2011. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, December 31, 1929, to John Murphy and Mabel O’Brien, Nancy was a devoted mother and community activist. She went on to serve in the House of Delegates, the Maryland State Senate and recently retired from the Maryland Parole Commission. She was a strong supporter of her community and found politics to be a natural extension of her desire to serve the issues and people she cared about.
Nancy was a formidable presence in Catonsville at a very early age; she loved people and was always ready with a smile and a funny story. Her community service started when her children were young with the scouts, school and sports, many remember Ms. Nancy from running the snack shack for little league programs.
There were fond memories, good friends and terrific stories from her time spent during legislative sessions in Annapolis. Nancy was always her constituents’ strongest advocate, there to listen and assist in any way she could and was quite effective throughout her political life. Governor Schaefer was a good friend and she could turn his frown into a smile with her wit, they truly had a mutual respect for each other. She was strong, effective, accomplished; serving on many boards and committees, receiving many awards and recognition such as Woman of Distinction and Woman of the Year.
Her public service led her to be a strong supporter of our Fire and Police Departments, feeling deeply how important they were and how they put themselves in harm’s way to protect us. Wilken’s Police Station will surely miss the cakes, cookies and candy Nancy would take to them to show just how much she cared.
A member of Catonsville United Methodist Church for many years she had a strong faith and a loving kind manner. Nancy was a fantastic cook; she even wrote a cookbook which contained some of her best recipes. Nancy was truly unique, one of a kind and will be missed in so many ways.
Nancy is survived by her three children, Michael Alagna, Julea Murphy, and Mark Alagna, four grandchildren, Michael, Kelly, Jason and Madison two sisters, Audrey Whitehead and Joanne Murphy, Nieces Susan Dicken, Karen Murphy, Nephews Kirk Schutz, Kris Schutz.
Family will welcome friends of Nancy Murphy at the Sterling-Ashton-Schwab-Witzke Funeral Home of Catonsville, Inc., 1630 Edmondson Ave, Catonsville, MD 21228 on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 and Wednesday, January 4, 2012 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. and 7:00-9:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the Catonsville United Methodist Church located on the corner of Frederick Rd and Melvin Ave.
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